Congress should focus on repealing 'Obamacare'

There is a move afoot in Congress to complicate the entire repeal of the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as "Obamacare," by scrapping just one part of the program known as risk corridors.

Some Republicans deride these risk corridors in "Obamacare" as a taxpayer "bailout" of insurance companies. However, the folks that actually crunch the numbers in Washington say risk corridors will save money and repealing them will increase the deficit.

According to a recent report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the risk corridors program would save the federal government $8 billion. To quote the CBO report, "CBO now projects that, over the 2015-2024 period, risk corridor payments from the federal government to health insurers will total $8 billion and the corresponding collections from insurers will amount to $16 billion." Hence, elimination of risk corridors would add $8 billion to the deficit.

What's worse is some conservative Republicans are falling into a potentially devastating trap by pushing for the elimination of risk corridors. If the legislation passes, not only will it add to the deficit, but health insurance premiums are likely to skyrocket as well. The Republican Party will then be blamed as we head into the battle for the presidency in 2016.

Let's remember that it was the Democrats who attacked private insurance companies as a strategy to get "Obamacare" passed in 2010. We may see Democrats reintroducing that strategy in a subtle attempt to encourage Republicans to push their bill. The Democrats would then pin the Republicans with the hikes in health insurance costs.

I have talked with individuals who have lost their existing health insurance. They now only have an option to purchase a more expensive policy that has a larger deductible, which contains benefits they don't want or need, and prevents them from keeping their doctor. I have also talked with business owners across the Seacoast who are struggling with health care costs and dealing with the implementation of "Obamacare." So let's make no mistake, "Obamacare" has never been more unpopular. Now is the time to seize an opportunity, not complicate matters as Republicans sometimes do.

With these new facts from the CBO setting out the consequences resulting from the elimination of risk corridors in "Obamacare," I hope Republicans will once again get focused on the big prize for the American people — the repeal of "Obamacare" lock, stock and barrel.